"The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the day he lost his friend" BY Russell Mihindukula
- Medium
- acrylic on canvas
- Year
- 2025
- Theme
- "The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the day he lost his friend"BY Russell Mihindukula
About this piece
This artwork is based on the historical character of the Hunchback of Notre Dame — a man born with severe deformities in the 18th century, left at the steps of a cathedral because he was considered too difficult to raise. The Catholic priest took him in, raised him, and he grew up serving the church all his life. The art captures the day he lost his only true friend — a small bird he loved deeply. His loneliness, isolation, and heartbreak are shown through the colors, the expressions, and the emotional depth of his face. I used layers of color and brush strokes to portray sadness, deformity, and the emotional weight he carried as someone rejected by society but faithful to God.BY Russell Mihindukula
Motivation
My motivation came from the story of this character and the emotional depth of his life: his deformity, his abandonment, his suffering, and yet his devotion to God and the cathedral that sheltered him. I wanted to reflect the moment he lost his only friend — the last piece of companionship he had. I used various colors not to make the piece fully dark or sad, but to show the complexity of his world. I added two supporting characters to express that even in sorrow there can be presence, understanding, or hope. This artwork allowed me to explore themes of loneliness, inner strength, compassion, and the resilience of someone society rejected but God embraced.BY Russell Mihindukula
Story behind the artwork
I want viewers to understand the historical value of this character and the world he lived in — a time when people with deformities and disabilities were abandoned, judged, or hidden away. Through the colors, strokes, and expressions, I want people to feel his struggle, his sadness, and his humanity. My expectation is that viewers will reflect deeply on how society treated people like him in old times, and how we can learn to be more compassionate today. I hope people see not just a figure from history, but a symbol of endurance, faith, and the hidden battles of those who live on the margins.BY Russell Mihindukula
Each purchase includes a personal certificate of authenticity. Framing and delivery arranged directly with the artist.
Tags: #peterrussart #russellmihindukula #srilankanart #soldartaustralia #artmelbourne